Learning to Seek by Hearing

Mark 4:24-25(NIV) 24"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." What you hear is going to depend on two things, the speaker and the listener. Jesus was speaking what He had heard from the Father but He was speaking to a mixed crowd. Some were listening to the Word of God and some were listening to hear a man. Some of these had different motives for listening. They might have wanted to be entertained and some might have wanted to judge him for their own purposes.

How often Jesus said, "Take heed..." I have fed on the parables of Jesus often. In them is buried so much truth to guide us. In the eleventh verse of this chapter, Jesus said to the Twelve, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you." This statement alone must have boggled their minds. It still makes those who hear wonder. It is God's intent that you know Him. Most are willing to know about Him but Jesus said to KNOW Him is eternal life (John 17:3). Paul prayed often that the hearer would be filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. This knowledge is hidden only to those who do not respond to Him.

Humility is an essential response. The humility of a child asking questions because they want to know and are seeking answers. The child understands they do not know. The disciples knew they did not know. They came to Jesus to seek understanding. This humble state is the foundation of our relationship to Truth. (Adam and Eve were forsaking that foundation when they started listening to Lucifer. He was offering them a different approach to knowledge they could control.) Jesus said they had the secret of the kingdom of God. The Word of God is given to us to reveal, to change, and mature us. Only by the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Guide, does Truth become this to us.

Be a little child, ask the Holy Spirit to show you, reveal to you, and to guide you.